Greatest engravers of all time?

Was thinking about this tonight as I am back at school, no roommate for now, and some time on my hands before class starts up again.

Originally was going to ask for the past 200 years, but since it would be a little more inclusive I will leave it wide open.

My nomination would be Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400 - 1498), who gave Europe the printing press, which obviously revolutionized the way ideas were spread. Rising literacy meant the commoner could think too- not just the elite who were privileged enough to have the skill. I had the privilege to visit Washington D.C. in 2013 with a youth leadership organization and saw the Gutenberg Bible, which is on display at the Library of Congress. At the time I was 11 or twelve and lesser understood the more minute details of history, now I really would give a lot up to go back.

Share yours! Pictures pleaaaaaase!

Gutenberg Bible - photo from Wikipedia

 

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I don't know about the greatest of all time - no-one knows who engraved ancient coins - but while cataloguing the modern world coins I've gathered over the years, I noticed a large number were engraved by English designer Percy Metcalfe. They have a recognisable art deco style very much in keeping with his era (1920s and 1930s).

They included the iconic Irish Free State 'Barnyard Collection', Iraqi dinars, Greek drachma, Bulgarian leva, Egyptian pounds and Turkish lira.

Ten Kuruş, 1935

Turkey, 25.5mm, 6g. 10 KURUŞ. TÜRKİYE CÜMHURİYETİ (KM 863).

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was modernising his country and wanted the coinage to reflect this new outlook. He liked what Percy Metcalfe had done with the Egyptian pound and Iraqi dinar, so invited him to redesign the country's coins in his modern style.

He also engraved British monarchs, who appeared on the currencies of all sorts of countries, like Canada, Australia, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Fiji and Southern Rhodesia.

George VI 4 1/2 Piastres, 1938

Cyprus. Silver, 19mm. Portrait by Percy Metcalfe (KM 24).

He also designed the George Cross medal. A search on Numista gives you some idea of how many coins he was involved in:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r="percy+metcalfe"&ct=coin&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&d=&i=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&w=&u=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=

 

We can thank Adolph A. Weinman for the Walking Liberty Half and the Mercury Dime!

Two amazing coins from the US mint!

 

Gutenberg was not an “engraver”. Engraving, as related to printing is when engraved lines (intaglio lines cut into the surface of a metal plate) are filled with ink that is then transferred to a piece of paper. Paper currency is an example, or a print from a plate made by Albert Durer.

Gutenberg used moveable type, a form of relief printing where the impression is made from inked shapes above the surface.

 

Pistrucci, Metcalfe, Droz, three way tie. Haven't had coffee yet, can't elaborate.

 

Oexlein


and Pistrucci



....get my votes.

 

Does this count?
Those are individual atoms. Not sure whom 'the engraver' was at IBM...

 

George T. Morgan
But I am biased

 

The greatest are Italians, of course

Attilio Motti, 5 lire 1914, reverse



Pietro Giampaoli, 500 lire, 1957-2001, obverse



petronius

 

Very good addition! Knew we would see some Italians. They have great designs. Stick to tradition rather than hop on the terrible modern art and architecture.

 

That medal by Pistrucci is amazing

 

The Waterloo medal is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

 

Bianchi perhaps . . . . ?

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Wiener is also known for his architectural medals, but I like his more whimsical artistic designs as well . . . . . . .

Z

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This is my favorite (and only) work by Giampaoli . . . . . .

Z

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Some enlightening posts here. Keep them coming.

Thanks to all who've introduced me to outstanding engravers.

 

I knew we would have a lot of Italians... The best to do it! Baroque always stunned me.

 

Kimon of Syracuse, 400 BCE.

 

Ron Landis